Armenia`s borders can only be changed by means of referendum -  statement 

ArmInfo.The delimitation and demarcation of borders between the Republic of Armenia and the  Republic of Azerbaijan must comply with best international practice and be based on the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of the United Nations and the Helsinki Final Act, reads a draft statement of  the National Assembly, presented by the opposition faction "Armenia", in connection with the beginning of the process of delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The statement, which was presented by NA deputy Artur Khachatryan at  the meeting of the RA NA Committee on Foreign Relations on April 23,  indicates the inadmissibility of the use of force or the threat of  its use when concluding any international agreement. The delimitation  and demarcation of borders between the two states can be carried out  in an atmosphere of trust, for which the most important prerequisites  are the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory  of the Republic of Armenia, the cessation of expansionist rhetoric on  the part of Azerbaijan, the return of all prisoners of war and  detainees, the solution of existing humanitarian problems, the  preservation of cultural , historical and spiritual heritage.

Moreover, delimitation and demarcation between states should in no  way limit the right of the people of Artsakh to collectively return  to Nagorno-Karabakh under international guarantees with the  determination of the final status of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). The  statement also noted that the delimitation and demarcation of borders  between the two countries are consistent processes that take into  account international law and best practices. When changing the  borders of Armenia, a referendum is necessary.

In work on border delimitation, one should use not only maps drawn up  on the basis of relevant legal acts, including those available at the  General Staff of the Russian Federation, but also delimitation  activities carried out by legal representatives of the bodies of the  two former Soviet republics. The agreement on the delimitation and  demarcation of borders between the Republic of Armenia and the  Republic of Azerbaijan should ensure the complete and simultaneous  unblocking of transport and other communication channels with the  impossibility of limiting their sovereignty.

The Government of the Republic of Armenia and persons representing  the Republic of Armenia are obliged to follow the above approaches  and refrain from making any territorial concessions under the threat  of violence, which is considered a criminal offense. The transfer of  territory under the sovereign jurisdiction of Armenia to Azerbaijan  is impossible without a decision being made in a referendum. The  National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia calls on international  organizations, parliaments of UN member countries to defend this  position of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, condemn  the aggression carried out by Azerbaijan against the Armenian people,  take actions to suppress them and involve Azerbaijan in the peaceful  negotiation process. The Parliament of Armenia calls on Armenians  around the world to make efforts to push the international community  to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic  of Armenia, the rights of the Armenian people in accordance with the  above position.

The deputy called on the authorities, as part of the delimitation  process, to demand that Azerbaijan return the captured sovereign  territories of Armenia. He recalled that Azerbaijan has occupied more  Armenian territory than what it demands from Armenia. "We need to  demand that Baku withdraw from areas in Tavush, including north of  the Jogaz reservoir, and from Jermuk. This is the only way to go for  delimitation, and not cede territory to Azerbaijan under force," the  parliamentarian said.

He added that the Azerbaijani armed forces occupied about 200 square  meters. km of Armenian territory, and instead of demanding these  areas back as a matter of priority, Armenia makes unilateral  concessions, which is actually capitulation. In particular, as the  politician emphasized, on March 9, the seventh meeting of the border  delimitation commissions was held, and two days after that, the  office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan issued an ultimatum  demanding the transfer of four villages in the Tavush region to  Baku's control. He noted that the country's authorities declare the  need to surrender the villages in Tavush, assuring that otherwise the  Azerbaijani side will start a war against Armenia.

Threats of war, he recalled, are a violation of international law,  and the authorities in Armenia contribute to the violation of  international law by fulfilling Azerbaijan's ultimatums to avoid war.  "Today the Armenian authorities declare that in the process of  delimitation and demarcation they are based on the principles of  legitimacy, but with their actions they encourage illegitimacy," the  oppositionist said. He added that if the authorities, under pressure  and threats from Azerbaijan, declare that these villages do not  belong to Armenia, but It is unclear on what basis they claim this.  The authorities refer to the Alma-Ata Declaration, which, according  to the CIS Charter, is not a mandatory document for membership in the  Organization. In other words, Khachatryan continued, there is no  legitimate document from 1991. , under which would be the signature  of the Azerbaijani side. Therefore, the reference is given to a  practically non-existent document, the oppositionist believes.

Khachatryan also wondered who authorized the delimitation and  demarcation commission to make a statement on the surrender of any  territories. "According to the law, the prime minister has the right  to form an advisory body and appoint its leader. That is, this  commission is an advisory body, no one gave them the right to decide  where the border will be. Any change in the border or territory must  be approved by referendum," he said, pointing out, that the  sovereignty of Armenia extends to these territories. Noting that, in  accordance with information coming from Tavush, troops are moving  there, he again asked the question: on the basis of what document is  this happening?

Khachatryan noted that the main goal of the presented document is  that, being an important representative body, the National Assembly  should have a clear position on the principles of border delimitation  and demarcation based on international law and the best international  experience. At the first stage, the politician continued, the  delimitation of the entire length of the border must be completely  completed, a full and detailed document must be drawn up, if this  document involves changing the borders, a referendum must be held and  only after all this the parties will be able to move on to the  demarcation process. Khachatryan emphasized that the starting point  for delimitation should be the actual borders in force at the time of  Azerbaijan's accession to the CIS in 1993. The process of  delimitation and demarcation should ensure the simultaneous and  complete unblocking of the border, without any restrictions on  sovereignty.

On April 19, the Armenian Foreign Ministry, following the results of  the eighth meeting of state commissions, announced that Armenia and  Azerbaijan agreed to begin delimitation from the Tavush region and by  July 1 to complete the approval of the draft regulations on the joint  activities of delimitation commissions. Since the evening of the same  day, residents of the border villages of Tavush, dissatisfied with  the agreements between Yerevan and Baku, have been holding protests  on the Armenia-Georgia interstate road.